Golf betting: Scottie Scheffler and Ryan Palmer are getting most bets ahead of unique Zurich Classic
Bettors like Scottie Scheffler’s chances of getting yet another win.
Scheffler and teammate Ryan Palmer are the most-bet duo at BetMGM ahead of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. The Zurich is the only team event on the PGA Tour schedule and the unique format is fun for bettors.
The field is comprised of 80 two-man teams. The first and third rounds are a best-ball format while the second and fourth rounds are alternate shot. Cam Smith and Marc Leishman are the defending champions and are the No. 3 favorites at +900.
They’re just ahead of Masters champion and world No. 1 Scheffler and his teammate Palmer at +1100. Scheffler and Palmer are the No. 5 favorites entering the weekend and are getting 9.4% of bets and 10.9% of the total money bet. That’s the most bets of any duo so far and only co-favorites Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa (+800) are getting more money (11.8% of the handle). Hovland and Morikawa are the second-most bet pairing while Sam Burns and Billy Horschel at +1000 are the only other duo getting at least 10% of the money.
Hovland and Morikawa are atop the board with Ryder Cup duo Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Cantlay and Schauffele are getting both 6.4% of bets and 6.4% of the handle and they are the most-bet duo to be ahead at the end of the first round with 8.6% of first-round leader bets.
The third-most bet duo to win the tournament is Davis Riley and Will Zalatoris. They opened at +4000 and have dropped to +3300 as 7.3% of wagers have been on them to win.
Here are the top 10 favorites ahead of the tournament beginning on Thursday.
Zurich Classic favorites
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele (+800)
Viktor Hovland and Collin Horikawa (+800)
Marc Leishman and Cam Smith (+900)
Sam Burns and Billy Horschel (+1000)
Ryan Palmer and Scottie Scheffler (+1100)
Tommy Fleetwod and Sergio Garcia (+1600)
Shane Lowry and Ian Poulter (+2000)
Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira (+2000)
Talor Gooch and Max Homa (+2200)
Harold Varner III and Bubba Watson (+2500)